Too much trouble? Get a hamster instead

ONE of my friends, who lives in Scotland, is a registered breeder of rottweilers.

 From her, I’ve learnt that the rottweiler was bred in Germany for the specific purposes of guarding and personal protection.

 These dogs, she tells me, are dangerous in the hands of a novice owner. They are animals that respond in a very instinct-driven way.

 So, it is difficult to understand why some people would want so casually to keep them as pets.

 The problem with rottweilers is that, as a breed, they have been engineered to become killing machines. The bite from a rottweiler is much harder than the bite from, say, an alsatian.

 So how do we control their presence in your peaceful neighbourhood? A good way is to license them – not the dogs, the owners.

 To be able to get a licence to own and control this type of dog, the potential owner should be required to first undergo some training.

 Let’s get an assessment of the owner’s home.

 While we’re at it, let’s also get the dog’s opinion. Is it fearful or comfortable in the hands of this owner?

 Is all this too much trouble for the owner? Then keep a hamster, I say.

 After all, if you want to handle another killing machine – the family car – you need to pass a driving test.

 So, why not pass a test to control a rottweiler?

 We have read of too many cases of dog owners who are not capable or strong enough to control their dogs.

 One hears of how loving and wonderful someone’s ‘rottie’ is and then we learn how it tore another animal or child to ribbons.

 A friend of mine has two daughters, aged 7 and 5, and both have been cornered by large and seemingly aggressive dogs – let loose and unleashed – in the park near their house.

 When confronted about their rampaging animals, the dog owners would, at best, give a blank stare, like the victim was the one with a problem.

 I would like to see rottweilers banned as a pet.

 If not, a muzzle and leash must be important pieces of the rottweilers’ wardrobe, and they should never be allowed to leave home without them.

 In fact, it is mandatory for every dog owner to adhere to this when taking their animal out in public places or risk being fined.

 But in land-scarce Singapore, there is no place for these animals, leashed or otherwise.

 Dog owners should also consider the feelings of fellow citizens. A Muslim cab-driver friend told me he once declined a fare because the commuter had a dog and was understanding about it.

 Only guide dogs should be permitted to travel in taxis and on public transport, and allowed in public places such as restaurants and hotels.

 How many times have we seen pet owners take their dogs to eating places?

 Sure, dogs can have good manners if they are raised properly, but who’ll teach dog owners some good manners?

 So if we can’t change their behaviour in a nice way, let’s bring about change with strict rules.

 Put the owners on a leash and the dogs will behave like, well, pussy cats.

 The writer is a former Singaporean marketing professional. 

http://www.tnp.sg/news/story/0,4136,183239,00.html?